ML20216C901

Forwards Insp Rept 50-461/98-06 on 980304-0414.No Violations Noted.Nrc Inspectors Identified That Personnel Failed to Appropriately Implement Requirements of TS 5.5.7, Ventilation Filter Testing Program

ML20216C901
Person / Time
Site:	Clinton
Issue date:	05/11/1998
From:	Grobe J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Walter MacFarland ILLINOIS POWER CO.
Shared Package
ML20216C907	List: IR 05000461/1998006 ML20216C901
References
50-461-98-06, 50-461-98-6, NUDOCS 9805190434
Download: ML20216C901 (4)

See also: IR 05000461/1998006

Text

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ps%q UNITED STATES

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g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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& LISLE, ILLINOIS 60532-4351

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May 11, 1998

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EA 98-266

Mr. Walter G. MacFarland IV

Senior Vice President

Clinton Power Station

lilinois Power Company

.

Mail Code V-275

P. O. Box 678

Clinton,IL 61727

SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-461/98006(DRP) AND EXERCISE OF

ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION

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Dear Mr. MacFarland:

On April 14,1998, the NRC completed an inspection at your Clinton Facility. The enclosed report

presents the results of that inspection.

During the period covered by this inspection, some improvements were noted in the performance

at Clinton Power Station. Specifically, a thorough root cause investigation for a loss of air event

identified several material condition enhancements, contingency planning for risk significant

events improved, and several activities were stopped when questionable results were obtained.

However, continued deficiencies were identified in the emergency response area most notably

with respect to the failure of emergency response organization personnel to appropriately

respond to several pager tests that were conducted subsequent to the February 13,1998, loss of

shutdown cooling event. This deficiency was considered significant in that it calls into question  ;

the ability to adequately staff and activate emergency response facilities as described in the

emergency plan.

In addition, we are concemed about three violations of NRC requirements that were identified. In

the first instance, NRC inspectors identified that personnel failed to appropriately implement the

requirements of Technical Specification 5.5.7, " Ventilation Filter Testing Program,"in that testing

was not performed on standby gas treatment Train "A" following exposing the high efficiency air

particulate filter and the charcoal adsorber bed to paint. In the second violation, measures were

not established to assure that nonconformances regarding dry film thickness measurements for

containment coatings were promptly corrected. As a result, appropriate corrective actions to

resolve the nonconformances were not taken. In the third violation, prompt corrective actions

were not taken to address degraded coatings inside the containment and the drywell and the

potential impact on the operability of the emergency core cooling system (ECCS) should the

suction strainers become clogged during a loss of coolant event. This violation was considered

significant since the lack of effective corrective actions over a six-year period resulted in

degradation such that ECCS operability was not assured.

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However, I have been authorized, after consultation with the Director, Office of Enforcement and

the Regional Administrator, to exercise enforcement discretion for the violations in accordance

with Section Vll.B.2, "V;olations identified During Extended Shutdowns or Work Stoppages," of

the " General Statement of Policy and Procedures for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement

Policy), and not issue a Notice of Violation in this case. The decision to apply enforcement

discretion was based on consideration of the following: (1) significant NRC enforcement action

was taken against the lilinois Power Company for corrective action program and Technical

Specification compliance problems; (2) additional enforcement action was not considered to be

necessary to achieve remedial action for the violations due to Clinton Power Station's actions to

address the coating degradation problem and its commitments in the Plan For Excellence to take

actions to address the corrective action program and the conduct of operations prior to plant

restart; (3) the violations were related to problems which were present prior to the events leading

to the shutdown; (4) the violations were not classified at a severity level higher than Severity

Level ll; (5) the violations were not willful; and (6) lilinois Power Company will meet with the NRC

to explain their efforts to resolve corrective action problems prior to restart as reflected in the

NRC's September 26,1997, Demand for Information (EA 97-435). Effective corrective actions

will need to be demonstrated prior to restart. The NRC must emphasize that failure to achieve l

effective performance improvement would lead to more significant regulatory sanctions.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, the

enclosures, and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

Sincerely,

Origina'l signed by

John A. Grobe, Dimetor

Division of Reactor Safety

Docket No.: 50-461

License No.: NPF-62

Enclosure: Inspection Report

No. 50-461/98006(DRP)

See Attached Distribution '

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SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES

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OFFICE Rill l Rill l Rlli _Al Rlli / l

NAME TKozak:co Gavula JGrob() f) BClafonhX# [-/L

DATE 05/ /98 05/ /98 05/%/98 05]0%fC)?

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W. MacFarland -2-

whether further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with regulatory

requirements.

However, I have been authorized, after consultation with the Director, Office of Enforcement and

the Regional Administrator, to exercise enforcement discretion for the third violation in

accordance with Section Vll.B.2, " Violations identified During Extended Shutdowns or Work

, Stoppages," of the " General Statement of Policy and Procedures for NRC Enforcement Actions"

l (Enforcement Policy), and at issue a Notice of Violation in this case. The decision to apply

enforcement discretion waa cased on consideration of the following: (1) significant NRC

enforcement action was taken against the lilinois Power Company for corrective action program

problems; (2) additional enforcement action was not considered to be necessary to achieve

remedial action for the violation due to Clinton Power Station's actions to address the coating

degradation problem and its commitments in the Plan For Excellence to take actions to address

the corrective action program prior to plant restart; (3) the violation was related to problems

which were present prior to the events leading to the shutdown; (4) the violation was not

classified at a severity level higher than Severity Level ll; (5) the violation was not willful; and (6)

lilinois Power Company will meet with the NRC to explain their efforts to resolve corrective action

problems prior to restart as ref!scted in the NRC's September 26,1997, Demand for Information

(EA 97-435). Effective corrective actions will need to be demonstrated prior to restart. The NRC

l

must emphasize that failure to achieve effective performance improvement would lead to more

significant regulatory sanctions.

In Accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, the

enclos'. ares, and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

Sincerely,

Original signed by

I

John A. Grobe, Director

Division of React >r Safety

Docket No.: 50-461

'

License No.: NPF-62

Enclosures: 1. Notice of Violation

2. Inspection Report

No. 50-461/98006(DRP)

See Attached Distribution l

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\ CLIN \CLl98006.DRP

To receive e copy of this document, indicate in the bor "C" = Copy without ettechment/ enclosure "E" = Copy with attachmentlenclosure "N" = No copy

OFFICE Rlli l6 Rllli'tl'd4Md ,.

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NAME TKozak:co f/C GavulaMf/ JGrobe

DATE 05/7/98 05/7/98L\d 05/ /98

OFFICIM RECORD COPY

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W. MacFarland -3-

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l cc w/etici: G. Hunger, Station Manager

R. Phares, Manager, Nuclear Safety

and Performance Improvement

l J. Sipek, Director- Licensing

Nathan Schloss, Economist

Office of the Attomey General

!

G. Stramback, Regulatory Licensing

Services Project Manager

General Electric Company

Chairman, DeWitt County Board

. State Liaison Officer

i Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission

Distribution:

J. Lieberman, OE '

J. Goldberg, OGC

B. Boger, NRR

Prcjeci Mgr., NRR w/ encl

A. Beach w/enci

J. Caldwell w/enci

B. Clayton w/enct

SRI Clinton w/enct l

DRP w/enci l

TSS w/enci

DRS (2) w/ enc! i

Rill PRR w/enct

PUBLIC IE-01 w/enci

Docket File w/enci

GREENS

LEO (E-Mail)

DOCDESK (E-Mail)

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